West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-02-03
THE CASHIERS STORY.
BY ALFRED b. rozER.

II have tried time and again to reason
myself out Of it. | don't like the idea of
going through life acknowledging that
am indebted to the supernatural for my
very existence. / have never believed
IN the supernatural. am not going to
believe in il now If can find any other
way OF accounting for my being here.
instead OF Mt the foot of gravestOne out
on the hill yonder."
We had been discussing spiritualism
before the opeu fire in Charley's room.
and had drifted from arguments on the
condition Of the dead TO the relation of
incidents of a mysterious character in
fuencing the lives of the living.
Il don't like TO figure rs n creature of
the mysterious Charley continued.
because it seems TO commit me to a be-
lief In all sorts of outlandish and un-
natural things-to inclose me in au at
mosPhere altogether unearthly; but my
only relief seems TO lie in an utter re
pudiation of an occurrence too real and
too productive OF practical results to be
repudiated, so you see am in good
deal OF mess over it,
Now, Charley is one Of the most mat
ter-of-fact of men. At the downtown
bank where he holds the position of
would have produced sensation. In
the familiar circle where he sat that nirht
Vt only provoked curiosity. This curl
osity he at once proceeded TO satisfy. be-
ginning with an abrupt question:
"Do you remember the night of the
18th of MarchTr
No one seemed to iremember for no
one answered.
That's singular, he said, after mo
ments silence. AT the same time YOU
all took great interest in at least one
otthe occurrences Of that night Irefer
TO the attempted bank-robbcry.
Certainly; we all remembered that.
We had simply failed to locate it on the
date .given-the night Of the 10Th of
March.
well, when left the bank that even.
In, Charley continued 81 was accom-
panied by Dick Munson, the plying-tell-
: era pale, nervous little fellow, with a
memory for faces and signatures almost
phenomenal, and an instructive ability
20 detect fraud. We stopred on the
bank-steps for a moment TO speak 10 n
customer, and then passed on up the
street together. His rooms arc about half
mile further out than mine. and wh n
we were kept at the bank later than US
ual, as on that occasion, we frequently
dlned together at neat little restaurant
not far from my chambers. We did so
that night, occupying a table alone in a
small alcove from which q window
looked out upon side street
'We were well through the meal, when
DICK called my attention TO the figure Of
man standing on the outer edge of the
walk, and facing across the side street.
DO you remember having seen that
person before this EVENING" ne asked.
81 glanced up carelessly, aud replied
that, 70 the best of my recollection, /
then saw the man for the first time
" Then, he added nervously, note
some popularity in dress or attitude, so
you will know il you see him again.
wait; the fa~e is the best index. lie
may turn this way in a moment"
AS though in uenced by our rigid
scrutiny, the man Oh the walk turned al
most before Dick had done speaking,
and faced the wind " where we sat.
" Don't look now, " Dick said, turning
MS own eyes away. lie is watching us
When you do look, notice the upper
portion Of his tacc. People Of his Kind
usually point out their pecuiarities bv
trying TO hide them. Look sharp under
the rim Of the slouch hat he wears for
some distinguishing mark
"Whilc tho teller was speaking /
caught a full view Of the mans face
The eyebrows were very thick and b,ack
and came close together. There was no
arch TO speak of, and the general effect
was that Of a straight, unb oxen line
crossing the lower forehead It was n
face not easily forgotten
i thought you would find some
thing there Dick said, when / told him
what / had seen. q WIS not Quick
enough 20 see the fellows face. but I
should have known him anywhere. lie
stood in front Of the bank steps when we
stopped there tonight and has kept us
m sight nearly aIl the way up. Unless
he is frightened of VIC shall hear from
him before long
II laughed heartily at Dicks view Of
the matter, and nothing more was sand
on the sub .cct until we reached my
rooms. TheO, placing his hand ON nv
arm, ne exclaimed
i can't get over what we were talk
ing about ut the restaurant can't act
that slouching figure on the edpe of The
walk ont Of my mind. Let me remind
You once moro TO look sharp for that face
wherever you go. Good night
lie was of before J co ld make any
reply, and went on upstairs, laughing
quietly at what / considered the nervous
fears Of tired out and naturally -us
piCiou man
ION my sittinR-room table / found a
note reminding me Of an important en-
gaBcmont in another part OF the cit and
lett hurricdly To this dly the ianitor
insists that left my door unlocked. but
Am positive that ] did not Not long
aiter my departure howe cr. he found
It ajar, looked carelcssly through tho
rooms, saw that wa not there and
locked It, Had he been more thorough
IN his search be would doubtless have
saved me q very strange experience.
''lt was midnight whom I returned 90
my rooms. The gas wa. burning dimlv in
in the sitting room, but the sleep ng room
beyond 10 Was in total darkness. Opening
trom The sleeping groom was largo bath